Join us for a thoughtful and learning-centered session exploring how educators sustain teaching and learning in emergency-affected contexts, with a focus on higher education continuity, student support, learning loss, and teacher preparation.
This session features educators Aida Mohammad Bakeer of Al-Quds Open University and Saida Affouneh of An Najah National University, both located in Palestine. Drawing on lived experience and collaborative work, the speakers will explore how the concept of sumud, often translated as steadfastness, shapes educational practice, and how virtual pathways and open approaches help students remain connected to learning during ongoing disruption. The conversation will highlight both the challenges educators and students navigate and the practical ways Open Education communities can offer support.
To help ground the discussion, participants are encouraged to read in advance:
Note to Attendees: This session is intentionally structured and moderated with care for presenter safety and well-being. It is not a political forum or a space for real-time commentary. To maintain a respectful and supportive environment, participants are invited to submit questions in advance via the registration form and the speakers will determine which questions can be addressed. There will not be a live Q&A.
Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026
Time: 10 AM Eastern Time (EDT)/ 3 PM British Summer Time (BST)/ 5 PM Jerusalem Time
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Presenters:
- Aida Mohammad Bakeer, PhD, Lecturer, Al-Quds Open University
- Saida Affouneh, PhD, An Najah National University
*A note of appreciation to Howard Scott, PhD, University of Wolverhampton, for taking part in early conversations and planning for this webinar.
This webinar is a collaboration by the Community College Consortium for OER (CCCOER), a part of Open Education Global, and the European Network of Open Education Librarians (ENOEL), a part of SPARC Europe.